Shoe-handling apparatus



1929- B. s. LESLIE SHOE HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 25. 1919 431 2 7%? ,RE-I

H mE Patented Got. 29, 1929 EJNITE STATES PATENT QFFl fZE BERNARD S. LESLIE, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CEINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEVI JERSEY, A COREC-RATION OF NEW JERSEY SHOE-HANDLING APPARATUS Original application filed September 25, 1919, Serial No. 326,163. Patent No. 1,552,622, dated September 8, 1925. Divided and this application filed August 4, 1325.

This invention relates to apparatus for holding and manipulating objects such as shoes and is herein shown by way of example as embodied in a mechanism for presentin shoes to an X-ray apparatus and manipulating them for the inspection thereof, which apparatus is more fully disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,552,622, granted September 8, 1925, on my application, of which this application is a division.

Objects of this invention are to provide improved mechanism which will enable a shoe to be satisfactorily held and manipulated for inspection and which will be substantially automatic in operation.

Features of the invention consist in a device for holding a shoe, for instance a completed shoe oil the last, for translating the shoe from one position to another, manipulating it as, for example, by rotation, about its lon itudinal axis, and then returning it to its original position. As shown herein, the shoe is grasped or clamped between devices which engage the breast face of the heel and the crease between the heel and the upper at the rear of the heel, and the clamping mechanism is moved lengthwise of the shoe to translate the shoe from one position to another. lV hen the shoe is in one extreme position of translation, the clamping mechanism is rotated about an axis passing longitudinally thr ugh the shoe lengthwise of the sole approximately ninety degrees each way from its normal position alternately to present each side of the shoe uppermost. As illustrated, the shoe clamping or holding device is arranged to be operated manually while the manipulating and rotating mechanism is arranged to operate automatically after being started by the operator.

These and other features of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds and will be pointed outin the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a View, partly in section, of the clamping devices by which a shoe is held and presented; and

Serial No. 48,690.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the construction illustrated, novel shoe holding and manipulating mechanism is shown as utilized for presenting a shoe for inspection by an X-ray apparatus comprising X-ra tub-o mounted in a lead-lined casing l upon which is mounted a supplementary casing 2% to receive the shoe in the field of the X-rays. For the inspection of the shoe presented in the casing 24, an eye-piece 26 is provided, and enclosed between the casing and the eyepiece 26 'is a fluorescent screen 28, the image on the screen 28 being reflected to the eye-piece by an angularly arranged mirror 32 at the back of the casing 24. The casing is fully enclosed except at the eye-piece and at the right-hand side of the casing, as seen in Fig. l, where an opening is provided large enough to permit a shoe to be introduced endwise into the casing.

The X-ray tube 2 and casing 2% are so disposed with relation to each other that all portions of a shoe presented in the casing as shown are brought under the influence of the X-rays and an object such, for instance, as a lasting tack, will appear a dark spot of corresponding form on the screen 28 while the leather of the shoe, being more easily penetrated by the X-rays, will be represented by lighter areas. Consequently, the relative disposition of a tack or the like in th shoe is easily determined. In accordance with the present invention means are provised for holding a shoe and for automatically translating the shoe into the field of an X-ray apparatus and manipulating the shoe therein. As herein illustrated, the means for holding the shoe comprises clamping devices consisting of a member 38 designed for engagement with the back of a shoe in the crease formed between the upper and the heel-seat portion of the outsole of the shoe and members 38 adapted to extend along the sides of the heel of a shoe and having inwardly extending portions 40 disposed for engagement with the breast face of the heel. The members 36 and 38 are carried by a bar 42 on which they are mace relatively movable in order to pefmit the introduction of a shoe to the presenting means. As shown, this is accomplished by providing the member 36 with a boss i l disposed laterally of said member and slidably received in a bore 46 of the bar 42. The member 36 is normally urged into clamping engagement with the shoe by means of a spring 48 seated in the bore 46 of the bar 42 and, when it is desired to introduce a shoe in or to withdraw it from the presenting means, the clamping member 36 is moved against the resistance of the spring 48 by means of pinion 50 meshing with a rack 52 on said member and operable by a milled wheel 54. The clamping members 86 and 38 are so disposed as to support a shoe in spaced relation to the floor 35 of the casing 24. The bar 42 is operated to convey a shoe into and out of the field of the X-rays by mechanism including a link 56 rotatably secured to the bar 42 at one end and at its other end ointed to the long arm 58 of a bell crank lever tulcrumed at 59, the short arm 60 of which is connected by a link 62 with a bell crank lever 64: fulcrumed at 66 on a head 68 carried by a standard 70. The lever G-l is operated by means of a cam block 72 having a poripheral cam groove 74: which receives a roll on the lever 64:. The cam block 7 2 is mounted Y on a shaft 7 5 rotatable in suitable bearings in the head 68.

In the use of my improved. machine, a shoe is presented in the field of the X-rays and manipulated in such a manner as to enable the operator to ascertain the relative disposition of a tack in the shoe, for example, whether the point of the tack projects through the insole of the shoe. It sometimes happens, as has been learned by actual use of apparatusaccording to this invention, that a tack becomes embedded in the upper of a shoe. Manipulation of the shoe in accordance with the present invention enables the operator in such a case to ascertain that the tack is located in the upper rather than in the sole of the shoe. Preferably, the relative disposition of l tack or the like in a shoe is rendered apparent by turning the shoe about its longitudinal axis, or, in other words, about a longitudinal center line extending lengthwise of the shoe sole. In case means are provided for automatically moving the shoe into and out of the held of the Xrays, it is preferably manipulated to enable the operator to ascertain the disposition of a tack or the like in the shoe by automatic means.

In the present embodiment of the invention, such means comprises a sleeve 76 rotatably mounted in a bearing 78 on the head 68 and having an angular passage which receives the correspondingly shaped bar 4L2, the construction being such that rotation of the sleeve 76- will effect rotation of the bar 42, whereas the bar d2 may be moved endwise in the sleeve. Rotation. of the sleeve 76 is preferably effected by means of an arm 80 (Fig. 3) projecting laterally from the sleeve and connected by a link 82 with a lever 84: fulcrumed at 86 on the head 68 and having a roll adapted to ride in a groove 88 in an end face of the cam block 7 2. The operation of the shaft and consequently of the cam block 7 2 to actuate the clamping devices 36 and 38 to present a shoe in the field of the X-rays and to manipulate the shoe is governed by a clutch 90 which is in turn controlled by a three-armed lever 92 having connected tl ereto a rod 96 adapted to be operated by a treadle (not shown).

To the end that the apparatus may be operated with a minimum or" attention and effort on the part of the operator, means are provided for insuring the presentation of a shoe in the field of the X-rays and the proper manipulation of the shoe in the field of the X-rays when the operation of the apparatus is once initiated and to discontinue the operation of said means after the completion of a single cycle of its operation. lreferably, and in the illustrated construction, said means comprises a latch 98 fulcrumed at 100 on the bell crank lever 64 and counter-weighted at one end, as indicated at 104, to maintain the shouldered portion 106 of the latch normally in the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to engage the arm 102 of the lever 92. The latch 98 is adapted to be moved out of operative relation with the lever 92 by a stop constituted by a screw or the like 108 stationarily mounted on the head 68 of the machine. A spring 110 secured at one end to the arm 102 of the lever 92 and at its other end to the standard 70 serves to disengage the clutch 90 after the release of the arm 102 by the latch 98 in case the operator has meanwhile removed his foot from the treadle which actuates the rod 96.

The machine is stopped with the roll of the bell crank lever 6d at the point Y of the cam groove 74 of the cam block 72, and with the roll of the lever 84 midway of the neutral portion B,A of the cam groove 88. Upon the initiationot the operation of the machine, the cam block 72 is rotated in the direction ofthe arrow (Fig. l) in consequence of which the inclined portion Y-Z of the cam groove 74: operates the lever (il in a direction to cause the clamping devices 86 and 38 to convey a shoe into the supplementary casing 2 Such movement or the lever 6 L carries the shouldered end 106 of the latch 98 into engagement with the arm 102 of the lever 92 so as to retain the lever 92 in position to close the clutch 90. During the movement of the shoe into the casing 2%, the roll of the lever 84 rides in the neutral portion BA of thecam slot 88 so that no turning movementof the shoe is effected.

When the roll of the bell crank 64 reaches the point Z of the cam groove 74, however, thus completing the movement of the shoe into the casing 24:, the roll of the lever 84 passes from the neutral portion BA of the cam groove 88, and, upon the continued rotation of the cam block 72, the raised portin A-C of said groove turns the shoe toward the rear of the machine as seen from Fig. 1, the arrangement of parts being such that the shoe is turned through an angle of substantially ninety degrees so that the sole of the shoe is disposed in a substantially vertical plane. Further rotation of the cam block 72 carries the depressed portion C-D of the groove 88 into engagement with the lever 84 thereby turning the shoe toward the front of the machine, as seen in Fig. 1, substantially through an angle of 180 de grees from its former position. As the cam block 72 continues to rotate, the shoe is restored to upright position, as shown in Fig. 1, by the engagement of the raised portion DB or" the groove 88 with the roll of the lever 84, at which time the roll of the bell crank 64 will be located at the point X of the cam groove 74, the portion ZX of the cam groove 74 being neutral so that no lengthwise movement of the bar 42 is etiected during the turning of the ba Upon further operation of the cam block 72, the lever 84 rides in the neutral portion BA of the cam so that the bar 42 is maintained against rotation, and the roll of the lever 64 rides in the portion X-Y of the cam groove 7 4 which actuates the lever 64 to convey the shoe out of the supplementary casing 24. As the roll of the lever 64 travels from the point X to the point Y of the cam slot 74, the latch 98, which is normally op erative to maintain the clutch closed or, in other words, in position to cause the operation of the cam block 72, is lowered, thereby bringing the counterweighted end 104: of the latch into engagement with the screw 108 which turns the latch 98 about its ful cruin 100, in a direction to carry the shouldered end 106 of the latch out of engage ment with the arm 102 of the lever 92, whereupon, if the operator has meanwhile removed his foot from the treadle controlling the rod 96, the spring 110 operates to throw out the clutch to stop the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a shoe by engagement with its exterior only, means for transiating said holding means to another pc tion, and means for rotating the shoe while in said other position.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a shoe by engagement with its exterior only, means for translating said holding means to another position, and means for turning the shoe about its longitudinal axis while in said position.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a shoe by engagement with the exterior of its heel only, means for transferring said holding means to present the shoe in another location, and means for turning the shoe about its longitudinal axis.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means, means for translating the shoe holding means in a right line from one position to another, and means for rotating the holding means about an axis extending in the direction of trans lation.

In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means comprising members to grasp a heel between its breast and rear portions, and automatic means for translating the holding means from one position to another and for automatically turning the holding means about an axis.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means comprising means engaging the breast face and the rand crease between which the heel is held, and automatic means for translating the holding means from one position to another and tor automatically turning the holding means about an axis extending in the direction of translation.

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means comprising heel breast engaging means and means spring held toward the breast engaging means to enter the rand crease, means for translating the holding means from one position to another, and means for turning the shoe about its longitudinal axis.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means, means for translating the holding means from one position to another in a right line, and means for turning the shoe substantially ninety degrees in either direction from its translated position.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means, means for translating the holding means from one position to another, and means for turning the shoe about its longitudinal axis sub stantially ninety degrees in either direction from its translated position.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a shoe by engagement with its exterior only, means for translating said holding means to another position, and automatic means for translating the shoe to another position, turning the shoe about its longitudinal axis and retracting the shoe to its original position.

11. In a machine of the class described,

means for clamping the heel of a shoe comprising a support having members extending along the sides of the heel, said members having inwardly projecting portions disposed for engagement with lateral portions of the breast face of the heel, a member arranged for engagement with the back of the shoe, and a spring for holding said member in yielding engagement with the shoe.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for clamping the heel of a shoe to support the shoe comprising a supporting bar, members on the bar arranged to engage the breast face of the heel, a member mounted to slide lengthwise of the heel of a shoe to support the shoe comprising at the back of the shoe, and a spring for opei ating said member.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for clamping the heel of a shoe to support the shoe comprising a bar, members on the bar extending along the sides of the heel and having inwardly projecting portions disposed for engagement with lateral portions of the breast face of the heel, a member constructed and arranged for engagement with the back of the shoe, means for yieldingly urging said member against the shoe, and operator-controlled means for moving said member against the resistance of said yielding means to permit presentation of the heel to the breast engaging means.

'14:. In a machine of the class described, means for grasping the heel end of a shoe to sustain it comprising a supporting member, means on the member for engaging the breast face of the heel a spring, and a cooperating member yieldingly movable manually against said spring to permit the heel of the shoe to be presented against the breast face engaging means, the spring acting when released to cause said member to engage the back of the shoe and hold the shoe against the breast face engaging means.

15. In a machine of the class described, means for grasping'the heel end of. a shoe to sustain it comprising a support, means on the support for engaging the breast face of the heel, and a member movable manually against spring resistance to permit the heel of the shoe to be presented against the breast face engaging means and acting upon release to engage the rand-crease at the back of the shoe and hold the shoe against the breast face engaging means.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means arranged for movement lengthwise of the shoe, a lever for moving the holding means, another lever for effecting rotation of said holding means about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe, a cam block for eifecting movements of said levers, a clutch for rotating the cam block, means for holding the clutch in during a single revolution of the cam block, and

means operated by one of said levers for releasing the clutch at the completion of the revolution to allow the machine to stop.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means arranged for movement in a rectilinear direction, lever means for moving the holding means, another lever for effecting rotation of said holding means about an axis extending in the direction of its rectilinear movement, a single cam block for effecting movements of said levers, a clutch for rotating the cam block, means for holding the clutch in operative position during a revolution of the cam block, and means operated by one of said levers for rendering said holding means inoperative at the completion of a single revolution of the cam block.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of shoe holding means arranged for movement in a rectilinear direction, a lever for moving the holding means, another lever for effecting rotation of said holding means about an axis extending in the direction of its rectilinear movement, a single cam block for effecting movements of said levers, a clutch for rotating the cam block, a latch for holding the clutch in operative position during a revolution of the cam block, and means operated by one of said levers for releasing the latch at thecompletion of a single revolution of the cam block.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a shoe by engagement with its exterior only, means for automatically translating'said holding means to another position, and means for rotating the shoe while in said other position.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a shoe by engagement with its exterior only, means for automatically translating said holding means to another position, and means for automatically rotating the shoe while in said other position.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a shoe by engagement with its exterior, means for translating said holding means to another position, and means for turning the shoe about its longitudinal axis while in said position. V

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BERNARD s. LESLIE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,733,351. Granted October 29, 1929, to

BERNARD S. LESLIE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 85, for "provised" read provided; page 4, line 16, claim 12, strike out "of a shoe to snpport the shoe comprising" and insert instead for engagement with the rand crease; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent 0ffice.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of December, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

